:-NRLF 


5D3 


P  S 

3519 
0236 
H3 

1922 
MAIN 


A  Harp  with 
\housand  Strings 


GIFT  OF 


1 


"TV 


A  Harp 

with  a  Thousand 
Strings 


ELIZABETH  MOUNTCASTLE 
JOHNSON 


Copyrighted,  1922 

by 
ELIZABETH  MOUNTCASTLE  JOHNSON 


Dedicated  to 
MILDRED  CATHERINE  JOHNSON 


To  Mildred 


When  I  was  so  ill 

With   the  fever  and  pain, 

A  dear  little  girl 

Came  again  and  again, 

With   arms   full   of  posies, 

Of  violets  blue,  and  lilies  and  roses. 

The  days  never  grew 

So  dark  nor  so  drear, 

But   sure    she   would   come 

With  a  bright  smile  to  cheer — 

With   arms   full   of   posies, 

Of  violets  blue,  and  lilies  and  roses. 

So   this   little  book 

To  her  I   bestow, — 

"To  Mildred,"  the  dear  little  girl 

Who  with  face  all  aglow, 

Came  with  arms  full  of  posies, 

Of  violets  blue,  and  lilies  and  roses. 


A  Harp  with  a  Thousand 
Strings 

With  walls  made  of  jasper 
And  gates  made   of  pearls, 
Somewhere    stands    a    city 
With  streets  of  pure  gold— 
And  Peter  stands  waiting 
To  answer  your  call, 
Now  this  is  the  story 
For  years  has  been   told; 
The  rivers  of  crystal 
Flow  thru  this  fair  land, 
And  around  a  great  throne 
The  bright  angels  stand, 
With   nothing  to   do 
But  to  shout  and  to  sing, 
And   play  on   a   harp 
With  thousands  of  strings. 

A  judge  in  his  greatness 

Sits   near,  on  a   throne, 

The  bad   ones  condemning, 

The  good  ones  condone: 

"Depart   from   me   here 

To  a  consuming  fire 

Ere  my  anger  and  wrath 

And   my  vengeance  rise  higher. 

Before    the    beginning 

Was  a  place  made  for  you, 

While  your  life  was  not  bad 

You  at  times  were  untrue. 

No  place  here  for  thee 

Just  to   shout  and  to   sing, 

And  play  on  my  harps 

With  thousands  of  strings." 


When  lo!    Thru  the  gate 

A  great  throng  then  came  in, 

To  be   judged   for  their  deeds 

('Twas  the  body  that  sinned.) 

And  that  has  returned 

To  the  dust  whence  it  came, 

So  why  judge  a  soul 

That  has  been  born  again? 

There   are   friends   that  you   loved 

Perhaps  father  or  son, 

Ah!    Hear  how  this  judge 

Is    condemning   each    one. 

He  does  not  tell  them 

Just   to    shout   and    to   sing, 

And  play  on  a  harp 

With   a   thousand   strings. 

Yes,  wait,  there  is  one 

In    this   great    earthly   throng, 

Who  at  the  last  moment 

Repents  of  his  wrongs. 

As  a  dear  little  lamb 

He's  permitted  to  stay, 

While  the  girl   he   destroyed 

Has  been  driven  away. 

She  was  called  unexpected 

This  old  world  to  leave, 

No  time  was  she  given 

To  say  "I  believe." 

But  the  man  is  permitted 

To  shout  and  to  sing, 

And  play  on  a  harp 

With   a   thousand    strings. 


10 


What  joy  up  in   Heaven 
Do  you  think  we'd  find, 
If  this  little  girl 
Should  be  yours  or  be  mine? 
Does  God  love  them  less 
Than  a  mother  can  love? 
Can  you  think  He  made  hell 
And    looks   down   from  above, 
As  the   fumes  that  ascend 
From   this  pit  where  they  go, 
To   His   nostrils  like   incense 
Come   up   from   below, 
And  those  near  the  throne 
Still    shouting   they   sing, 
And  play  on  a  harp 
With   a   thousand   strings. 

It  may  be  a  blessing 

To  reach  Heaven's  band, 

And  rest   from  the  cares 

That  we  leave  in  this  land. 

But  the  poor  selfish  hearts 

Who'll  be  happy  and  gay, 

When    most    of   humanity 

Is  lost  on  the  way, 

Need  never  to  fear 

For  their  creed  puts  them  there, 

Locked   in    from    the   lost 

In  that  land  bright  and  fair, 

There  they  rest  by  the  stream 

There   they   shout   and  they  sing, 

And  play  on  a  harp 

With   a   thousand   strings. 


11 


Oh!    God  just  one  prayer 

That  I   send  up  to  Thee, 

To  your  city  of  jasper  and  gold, 

Don't   lock  me  within 

These,  Your  bright  pearly  gates, 

If  behind  me  I  leave 

Just  one  poor  lonely  soul. 

It  could  not  be  Heaven 

Without  my  dear  ones, 

Nor  to  know  of  the  loss  of  one  soul. 

I   shall  want   for  each  mother 

To  know  that  her  son, 

Is  safely  within  the  great  fold. 

And  not   even   then 

Would   I  care  just  to  sing, 

Nor  to  play  on  a  harp 

With    a    thousand    strings. 

For  as  long  as  just  one 

Of  this   little  earth  band 

Is  left   here,  the   teacher   of  life. 

I   shall  ask  to  return 

From  that  Heavenly  land, 

To  help  bear  his  sorrow  and  strife, 

For   some  are   so  weak 

Altho    others    are    strong, 

It  is  hard  for  some  always 

To  know  right  from  wrong, 

I    ask   just    to   help, 

To    some    soul   joy   to    bring, 

Not   to  join   in   a   chorus, 

Not  to  shout  and  to  sing, 

Nor  to  play  on  a  harp 

With  a  thousand  strings. 


12 


Ocean  of  Time 

Flow  on,  flow  on,  ocean  of  time, 

Just  speed  the   day  when  cares  of  earth 

Have  passed  away,  and  souls  are  free, 

And  hearts  are  filled  with  joy  and  mirth. 

After   I   pass   the   change,   called   death — 

To  know  eternal  life  is  mine, 

I   know   I'll  ask  to  live  again, 

To  help  bear  sorrow  and  earth  crime. 

But  we  who  dwell  here  on  this  earth, 
Are  not  the  living,  but  the  dead; 
And  things  we  see  are  not  the  real — 
The  violets  blue,  nor  roses  red, 
'Tis   only  a   reflection   of 
The  real  works  of  His  hand; 
And  when  we  cross  the  bridge  between 
This  earth  and  that  fair  land. 

We  then  will  know  as  we  are  known, 
For  He'll  roll  back  the  scroll  of  life, 
And  all  the  thoughts  of  lives  long  past 
Will  then  be  shown;   sorrow  and  strife 
For    all    mistakes,    and    faults    and    fears, 
We'll    seek    permission    to    return 
To  make  amends,  each  wrong  to  right, 
For  this  alone  each  soul  will  yearn. 

Conscience  will  be  your  only  Judge — 
Conscience  will  be  your  only  hell, 
And  life  that  has  been  loaned  to  you, 
The  only  voice  you'll  need  to  tell 
Of  wasted  years  spent  here  on  earth 
In  selfishness,  no  thoughts  of  love; 
Your  life  will  not  be  satisfied 
To  stop  and  rest  with  those  above. 

13 


In  blazing  letters  written  there 
Across  each   forehead,  you  will  see 
A  record  of  each  unkind  thought; 
And  all  who  will,  may  read  of  thee, 
That   you,    with    plenty,    did    refuse 
To  help  the  poor  till  tasks  were  done, 
Nor  visited  them-  in  their  distress, 
Nor   fed,   nor  clothed  their  little   ones. 

The  man   who   slaved   that  you   might  feast- 
You'll  find  no  rest  till  you  repay, 
And  justice  stands  with  form  erect; 
(For  justice  sits  and  weeps  today). 
The  scales  must  balance  for  each  one, 
For  right  is  might  with  those  above; 
In  Heaven  or  hell  you'll  find  within 
Only  one  law,  and  that  is  love. 

Flow   on,   flow   on,   ocean   of  time, 
Till    man   will    find   within   his    soul, 
Forgiveness   free,   and   love  and  life, 
And  all  are  safe  within  the  fold. 
For  every  man  is  God's  own  Son — 
This   God   of  love   no  vengeance   knows; 
His   teachers   hover   ever   near 
To  share   our  joys   and   share   our  woes. 

No  man  who  lives  upon  this  earth 
Can  go  before  his  God  and  Lord, 
And   justly   claim   while   living  here, 
He's  earned  eternal  sweet  reward. 
No  man  who  ever  lived  on  earth, 
So  bad  but  that  some  good  desire 
Dwelling  within,   deserving  not, 
The  tortures  of  eternal  fire. 


14 


"The  Story  the  Violin  Told" 

A  bower  of  roses  and  soft  shaded  light, 

And  a  girl  who  was  slender  and  fair, 

A  gown  that  was  shimmering  silver  and  white, 

And  a  red  rose  was  caught  in  her  hair. 

As  gentle  and  frail  as  a  lily  that  sways 

To  the  music  that  soft  zephyrs  blow, 

And  close  to  her  heart  with  the  tenderest  care 

She  was  holding  a  violin  and  bow. 

With  notes  overpow'ring  with  grandeur  sublime, 

'Twas  the  stroke  of  a  great  Master's  hand; 

The  vibrations  swelling  and  floating  thru  space 

Seemed  to  come  from  a  faraway  land. 

Twas  a  great  mighty  throng  that  sat  listening  that 

night 

To  chords  so  divine,  soft  and  low, 
Did  I  see  two  white  hands  on  that  small  violin 
And  two  hands  that  were  holding  the  bow? 

'Twas  a  rhythm  unknown  to  the  senses  o*f  man, 
It  came  from  some  faraway  sphere 
Stupendous  and  mighty  'twas  wafted  to  earth 
And  caught  on  the  wings  of  the  air. 
Alas  for  the  ear  that  is  still  unattuned 
To  the  vibrations  sent  from  above, 
It  misses  the  joys  that  God  sends  to  this  life 
By  not  hearing  His  message  of  love. 

Then  softer  and  softer  as  upward  her  bow 

Soared  high  on   its  Heavenly  way, 

Then  throngs  of  soul  spirits  descended  to  earth 

With  a  new  light  far  brighter  than  day. 

Ah!   list  to  the   voices  in  rich   harmony, 

To  my  soul  color  blending  within, 

Did  it  come  from  the  Father's  great  temple  above, 

Some  beautiful   soul   here  to  win? 

15 


Then  the  notes  trailed  away  to  a  soft  sweet  refrain, 

Breathing   forth   God's  own   message  of  love, 

As  floating  and  spreading  thruout  the  earth  star 

Bringing  knowledge  of  life  from  above. 

And  the  thoughts  from  each  soul  reaching  out  thru 

the  spheres, 

Where  contentment  and  peace  reigned   supreme, 
Were  striving  to  catch  the  divine  spark  of  Him, 
While  I  sat  as  one  in  a  dream. 

Then  a  stillness  that  fell  like  a  blessing  on  earth, 

While  the  last  tender  notes  filled  each  soul 

With  a  Heavenly  message  of  truth,  hope  and  love, 

'Twas  the  story  the  violin  told. 

I  shall  tell  you  why  souls  that  had  never  been  stirred 

Were  thrilled  with  desire  to  be  free, 

For  throngs  of  God's  saints  had  come  down  to  this 

feast, 

For   an   Angel  just  whispered   to   me: 
"See  the  old   music   Master  in  bright  spirit   form, 
He's  returned  to  your  sad  earth  below, 
And  is  standing  so  near  by  the  side  of  the  maid, 
Controlling  her  violin  and  bow." 


16 


;To  the  Happy  Young  Folks" 

Oh!    Let  the  young  be  happy, 
To  laugh  and  dance  and  sing, 
For  they  are  here  to  brighten  up 
The   winter,   like   the    spring. 
Do  not  expect  to  hear  in  Heaven 
God's  condemnation  hurled, 
Upon  the  happy  bright  young  folks 
Who's  smile  lit  up  the  world. 

Grow  young  with  those  you  would  condemn 

And  you'll  see  truth   within, 

For  when  you  stop  and  think  it  o'er 

There's  no  such  thing  as  sin. 

So  let  your  thoughts  be  happy  ones, 

The  good  in  each  you'll  find, 

Today  you'll  start  your  Heaven 

By  learning  to  be  kind. 

For  you  are  living  in  the  past, 

A  crude  old  fashioned  way, 

All  happy  young  folks  you've  condemned 

To  a  downward  path  today. 

Why  you  must  be  a  lonely  soul 

There  is  no  up  nor  down, 

There's  only  God's  big  universe 

Just  spinning  round  and  round. 


17 


The  Blind  Boy 

As  I  passed  on  my  way 

A  blind  boy  I  heard  play, 

The  notes  of  a  beautiful  song. 

And  his  heart  seemed  afire 

With  a  strange  mad  desire, 

To  give  joy  to  the  great  passing  throng. 

And  I  said  to  myself, 

"What  a  wonderful  life 

Has  been  loaned  to  a  blind  boy  like  you, 

Why  you  never  have  seen 

Just  a  tiny  sunbeam 

Nor  have  looked  on  the  ocean  so  blue. 

"The  bloom  of  the  flowers 

So    brightly   for   all, 

Your  poor  eyes  are  never  to  see. 

But  you  sing  your  sweet  song 

To  the  great  passing  throng, 

And  wait  for  your  soul  to  be  free." 

Then  I  saw  a  sweet  smile 

On  his  bright  happy  face, 

And  it  came  from  a  heart  full  of  joy. 

And  his  song  seemed  to  say 

To   those   passing  that  way, 

Don't  pity  this  happy  blind  boy. 

But  look  all  around  you 

See  others  you  meet, 

With  eyes  that  are  brown  and  are  blue. 

While  seeking  for  gold 

With  a  poor  blinded  soul, 

To  their  God  they  have  never  been  true. 

18 


So  it  isn't  the  boy 

That  goes  all  thru  this  life, 

Without  seeing  the  works  of  mankind, 

That  pity  be  given. 

But  send  thoughts  to  Heaven 

For   the   dear   ones   whose   soul   remains   blind. 

As  I  past  on  my  way 

I  could  still  hear  him  play, 

The  notes  of  that  beautiful   song. 

A  tear  filled  my  eye 

For  up  to  the  sky, 

His  notes  reached  the  Infinite  throng. 

His  life  is  of  service 

To  his  fellow  man, 

No  thoughts  there,  of  fear  nor  of  sin. 

His   face   shown   so  bright 

With  a  Heavenly  light, 

I  am  sure  it  was  God  within. 


19 


"Atonement" 

Not  always  had  she  borne  her  part 
In  sweet  submissive  grace, 
The  longing  for  his  big  strong  arms, 
The  smile  upon  his  face. 

His  kiss  of  love  upon  her  lips, 
His  heart,  his  soul,  his  life. 
To  be  to  him  a  radiant  charm, 
Companion,  Pal,  and  Wife. 

To  be  the  mother  of  his  sons, 
To  honor  and  obey. 
To  make  his  home  a  place  of  rest, 
When   twilight   closed   each   day. 

All  these  and  many  more  she  dreamed, 
As   days   dragged  by; — and  yet 
With  one  prayer  only,  in  her  heart, 
"Oh!  God  let  me  forget. 

"This  love  for  which  I've  prayed  each  night, 

My  faith  is  failing  fast. 

Oh!   Let  it  be  a  prayer  of  thanks 

That  one  more  day  has  past." 

The  weariness, — the  tired  brain, 
The  dreams  of  life  and  play, 
Then  once  more  consciousness  returns 
To  start  another  day. 


20 


Any  yet  some  teach  that  after  death 
Of  punishment  they  tell 
She  knew  that  in  this  life  she'd  known 
The  tortures  of  a  hell. 

And  then  one  day  she  heard  a  voice, 
"Ah!  Cease  thy  restlessness, 
And  listen  to  God's  messengers 
Thou  soul  of  selfishness." 

That  which  you  crave  shall  be  withheld, 
That  which  you  ever  seek, 
To  help  you  realize  the  truth, 
To  teach  you  to  be  meek. 

Ah!   Father  she  had  been  to  blame, 
She  asked  that  you  would  fill 
Her  life  with  only  one  dear  soul, 
Ne'er  thought  to  pray — "Thy  Will." 

When  all  the  world  needs  love  and  truth, 
(For  love  has  past  some  by) 
And  many  weary,  faint  and  weak, 
Not  just  her  heart's  sad  cry. 

She   found   a    little   cripple    lad 

Whose  life  knew  naught  of  joys, 

Had  never  laughed  and  romped  and  played 

Like  other   little   boys. 

And  then  a  child  with  eyes  so  blue, 
With  face  so  sad  and  old, 
Was  fighting  hunger  all  alone, 
Half  frozen  with  the  cold. 


21 


A  man  so  gray  and  bent  with  age, 
Whose  face  was  good  and  kind 
But  seeing  naught  of  God's  bright  world, 
A  beggar  poor  and  blind. 

And  on  and  on  she  searched  and  found, 
Those  lives  in  sore  distress. 

Her  prayers  had  changed,  "Oh!   God  help  me," 
To,  ''Give  them  happiness." 

And  then  she  made  a  vow  to  God 
That  while  this  life  should  last, 
She'd  never  fail  to  serve  and  help, 
Forget  her  own  sad  past. 

Today  a  messenger  was  sent 

To  give  her  hope  and  love, 

And  this  the  message  that  he  brought,— 

Came  from  the  spheres  above. 

"You  have  obtained  the  truth  my  child 
Be  faithful  to  your  vow, 
And  joy  and  gladness  shall  be  yours, 
We  lift  the  curse— and  now 

"We  guide  and  keep  the  one  so  dear 
Your   prayers   have    reached   the   throne, 
And  in  His  time  you  shall  find  love 
I  say  you  have  atoned." 


22 


"Little  Boy" 

(To    Billy) 

Little  boy  with  eyes  so  big  and  brown, 
You  look  so  wise  each  time  you  frown, 
You  asked  an  angel  to  bring  you  here 
To  earth,   from   out   your  Heavenly   sphere. 

For  mother's  joy  you  have  come  so  far, 

Little  boy  I  wonder  who  you  are? 

You  seem  to  know  all  about  it,  dear, 
Just   why  you   should  be  living  here, 
You   look  as    if  you   really  knew 
The  work  that  God  sent  you  to  do. 

Did  you  ask  to  return  to  this  sorrowful  star, 

Little  boy  I  wonder  who  you  are? 

And  when  you  grow  to  be  a  man, 

You'll  help  spread  love  thru  this  sad  land, 

And  help  to  teach — the  world  to  bless 

And   plant  sweet   hope  within   each  breast. 

And  dear  may  naught  your  sweet  life  mar, 

Little  boy  I  wonder  who  you  are? 

Don't    let    the    churches,    nor    dogmas,    nor    creeds, 
Crush  out  the  love  this  sad  earth  needs. 
Don't  let  the  teachings  of  high  brow  schools, 
Bind  fast  and  hold  in  orthodox  rules. 

Maybe  you  came  from  some  other  star, 

Little  boy  I  wonder  who  you  are? 

This  looks  like  a  great  big  world  to  you, 
As  you  greet  each  one  with  a  smile  so  true, 
But  its  souls  are  weary  and  sad  the  while, 
Little  boy  continue  to  smile  and  smile. 

For  the  world  very  small,  just  a  tiny  star, 

Little  boy  I  wonder  who  you  are? 

23 


We  know  you  are  part  of  God's  great  plan, 
(Altho  mother  says,  "You  are  her  little  man.") 
I  am  sure  you  are  here  with  a  message  of  love, 
And  when  I  shall  go  to  the  Father  above 

I'll  watch  from  my  home  on  some  other  star, 
So  then  little  boy  I'll  know  who  you  are. 


24 


My  Wish 


If  a  fairy  should  come  to  me  and  say, 

From  my  bountiful  list  you  can  have  what  you  may, 

Shall   it  be  glory,  or  power  or  name, 

Shall  it  be  travel  or  money  or  fame. 

Just  yours  for  the  asking,  so  name  your  desire, 

Which  one  on  my  list  do  you  most  aspire? 

Well  little  fairy  should  glory  I  choose, 

Twould  be  a  selfish  wish 

And   sure   I   would  lose, 

All  the  joy  in  receiving,  if  glory  I  choose. 

If  power   I   choose,   I   might  wield   the  rod, 
And  in  so  doing  lose  the  path  to  God, 
So  what  would  I  profit  if  the  path  I  lose? 
No  it  isn't  power  I  choose. 

There  are  so  many  ways  to  make  a  name 
And  mine  might  be  made  along  paths  of  shame, 
If  I  were  to  choose 
For  myself  a  name. 

I'll  admit  that  travel  has  a  happy  ring, 

Perhaps  appeals  more  than  anything 

But  money,  Ah,  no!  I  value  much  less 

Than  all  other  gifts  with  which  you  would  bless. 

For  'tis  sure  when  I  cross  the  border  line 
My  bag  of  gold  I'd  leave  behind, 
The  years   spent  in  travel  would  pass  away, 
And  power  and  glory  they'd  forget  in  a  day. 


25 


Little  fairy  the  gifts  to  me  you've  called, 
Forgetting   the   most   important  of  all, 
The  one  I  would  choose  comes  from  above, 
Let  me  whisper  to  you,  Little  Fairy  it  is  Love. 

Love   for   humanity,   not   one   must   we   lose, 
Do  you  hear  Little  Fairy,  it  is  Love  I  choose. 


26 


The  Hidden  Treasure 

Here's  a  very  strange  story   I'll  tell  you  today, 
Of  a  dear  little  woman,  they  say  strayed  away. 
She  was  restless  and  weary,  a  gay  life  she  sought — 
But  she  paid  very  dearly  for  pleasures  she  bought. 
She  roved  far  and  wide  and  her  spirit  was  sore, 
She  was  always  in  search  for  just  one  pleasure  more. 
But  she  had  a  deep  thought  in  her  lonely,  sad  heart, 
But  she  never  could  know  it  till  she  lived  apart, — 

From  friends  and  family  and  from  all  who  knew 
The    strange,   foolish    things    which    she    once   used 

to  do. 

Then   her  poor  little  brain  began   deeply  to  think 
Of   the   long   wasted   years,    and   how   close   to   the 

brink 

Of  hopeless  despair  in  her  failure  to  live; 
She  had  never  a  thought  for  the  Father  who  gave 
Her  the  life  and  the  right  just  to  think  for  herself: 
Then   she    saw    that   her   thought    gift   was    all    she 

had  left. 

She  searched  in  her  heart,  and  there  safe  from  harm 
She  found  this  deep  thought  to  be  her  chief  charm — 
So  out  from  its  hiding  place  she  brought  it  one  day, 
And  brushed  all  the  dust  and  the  cobwebs  away. 
And  began  to  look  over  her  little  thought  store, 
And  it  grew  and  it  grew,  and  each  day  there  were 

more — 
There  were  kind  ones  and  loved  ones  so  true  and 

so  strong, 
And    she    never   once    found    a    small    thought    that 

was  wrong. 


27 


And  as  thoughts  are  real  things  if  you  sow  the  seed, 
You  will  reap  a  full  harvest  of  good  thoughts  and 

deeds. 

So  you  must  remember  ere  the  time  comes  to  weep, 
That  just  as  we  sow  our  seed,  so  we  shall  reap. 
Now  this  little  woman  ''they"  say,  strayed  away, 
The   Infinite  Thought  is  protecting  each  day. 
Their   thoughts  will   enfold   her   and  keep  her  from 

harm, 

And  her  work  will  be  blessed,  for  to  her  strong  arm 
The  power  has  been  given 
To    think    her    own    thoughts    to    the    door-way    of 

Heaven. 


28 


"The  Passing' 


The  breath  has  slipped  away,  the  life  has  sped, 
Silent  the  heart  and  yet  he  is  not  dead. 
Cold  lies  the  mortal  frame — no  sight 
Of  earthly  things,  yet  filled  with  light. 

Give  not  way  to  sorrow  nor  to  anguish  keen, 
Thou  hast  been  taught  on  God  and  Christ  to  lean, 
Have  learned  the  truth  and  seen  the  home  above 
Where  the  soul  is  taken  by  messengers  of  love. 

For  a  little  space  each  has  to  learn  on  earth 

How    to    govern    self,    progress,    and    win    his    own 

re-birth. 

In  that  unknown  land,  by  mortal  seldom  seen, 
Bright  with  love  and  sunshine's  glorious  sheen. 

Govern  then  thy  sorrow,  earth  life  is  but  a  dream, 
Ever  changing,  restless,  seeking  for  a  misty  gleam 
Of  the  beacon  that  Almighty  mercy,  sends  afar, 
Drawing  home  his  wonders  on  your  lowly  star. 

Peace  and  love  shall  make  thy  life  secure,  sublime, 
Messengers  of  hope,  guide  thee  to  a  Celestial  Clime, 
Brush   away  all  anguish,   sorrow,   bitter   tears, 
For  the  Father's  love  to  Heavenly  gardens  steers. 

Make  thy  Heaven  on  earth,  God  knoweth   best, 
Fulfill  thy  mission  and  thou  shall  be  blessed. 
Teach   the   message    to    thee   sent,    tho   you   meet   a 

frown, 
So  shall  thou  win  beyond;  the  "Victor's  Crown." 


29 


Searching' 


My  heart  has  been  calling 

For  you  all  the  day, 

My  ear  has  been  hearing  your  voice. 

My  eyes  have  been  searching 

Each  face  that  I  met, 

Not  one  caused  my  heart  to  rejoice. 

Are  you  so  far  away, 

In  God's  big  universe? 

Know  naught  of  the  ache  in  my  heart? 

Can't  you  send  me  one  message 

To  strengthen  my  faith? 

I  strive  dear  to  fulfill  my  part. 

You  who  were  ready 

To  comfort  and  cheer, 

And  all  my  earth  trials  to  share. 

But  miles  upon  miles 

Seem  stretching  between. 

Your  silence — as  though  you  don't  care. 

Can  a  heart  that  has  loved 
Through  the  eons  of  time, 
Forget  even  one  tender  thrill? 
Just  waft  me  a  kiss 
On  wings  of  the  air, 
Bidding  my  Soul  to  be  still. 

Today  all  seemed  bright 

In  God's  beautiful  world, 

Each  face  that  I  met  wore  a  smile. 

And  the  bird's  song  was  tender 

And  plaintive  and  low, 

But  my  heart  ached  for  you  all  the  while. 


30 


There  is  work  I  must  do 

Ere  I  leave  the  earth  star, 

It  is  part  of  the  Creator's  plan. 

I  know  I  am  left  here 

To  help  spread  the  truth, 

Through  this  beautiful  glorious  land. 

And  you  who  have  crossed 

O'er  the  bridge  they  call  death, 

Surely  see  from  your  home  up  above; 

Won't  God  let  you  come 

For  a  moment  to  earth, 

Just  to  tell  me  once  more  of  your  love? 

I  saw  five  bright  angels 

That  took  you  away, 

That  night  when  you  left  me  alone, 

I   called  to  you  then, 

But  no  answer  you  gave, 

Surely  dear  God  I've  atoned. 

Some  day  when  I've  finished 

My  work  here  below, 

I'll  start  on  this  same  journey  too; 

And  when  God  sends  his  angels 

To  help  bear  me  o'er, 

I  know  one  of  them  will  be  you. 


31 


Fear 

An  angel  was  sent 

From  a  far  away  sphere, 

To  me  on  my  own  lowly  plane 

And  found  in  my  soul 

Lived  a  burning  desire, 

To  return  to  the  earth  once  again. 

"Ah !  come,"  said  the  Angel, 

And  whispered  to  me, 

"Why  tears  of  deep  anguish  should  fall. 

Would  you  kindle  the  embers 

Of  a  fast  dying  love, 

And  their  flame  once  again  you'd  recall? 

"Would  you  feed  those  who  hungered, 

You'd  find  by  the  way. 

Would  you  help  cloth  some  dear  little  one, 

Would  you  do  unto  others 

With  whom  you  might  meet, 

As  taught  by  God's  own  loving  Son? 

"If  the  great  universal  law 

Thus  should  permit, 

Your  return  to  the  world  once  again. 

Would  you  tell  me  the  mission 

For  which  you  would  go, 

Back  to  earth  from  your  Heavenly  plane?" 

"Ah!  Angel,   I  know, 

Of  the  hunger  and  cold, 

While  the  wheels  of  oppression  still  grind. 

And  a  wave  of  great  sorrow, 

Sweeps   over  my   soul 

For  the  blind  are  still  leading  the  blind. 


32 


"I  know  the  great  need 

Of  a  brotherly  love, 

Without  caste  without  color  or  creed, 

But  the  work  I  would  do 

For  humanity  there, 

Is  one  of  a  far  greater  need. 

"And  you  who  have  come 

From  the  Father  of  love, 

You  ask  me  the  cause  of  a  tear, 

I  should  like  to  return 

Just  to  help  teach  the  world, 

There  is  no  such  thing  as  Fear." 


33 


The  Right  and  the  Wrong 

Who  dwells  among  you 

That  is  able  to  say 

Where  the  fine  line  of  right  shall  be  drawn? 

That  separates  all 

Of  the  good  from  the  bad — 

Who  can  say  what  is  right  and  is  wrong? 

We  all  have  our  standard 

Of  how  we  should  live: 

Of  what  we  call  right  and  call  wrong. 

And  mine  might  be  found 

To  be  different  from  yours, 

Like  the  difference  of  voice  in  a  song. 

And  still  if  we  all 

Only  knew  how  to  use 

The  one  blessed  gift  of  free  thought, 

The  few   who  are   thinking 

For  most  of  the  world, 

Only  joy  and  great  blessing  have  brought. 

In  a  far  away  land 

Where  the  Druids  once  lived, 

In  March  on  the  twenty-fourth  day 

As  the  sky  became  red 

With  the  bright  morning  Sun, 

Their  beautiful  maidens  would  slay. 

In  slaying  they  thought 

They  atoned  for  their  sins, 

For  the  year  that  had  just  passed  away. 

Do  you  think  that  the  men 

Of  our  civilized  world 

Would  stand  for  such  customs  today? 


34 


Now,  some  of  you  know 

In  the  years  long  ago, 

How  our  Fathers  set  Sunday  apart 

As  a  day  that's  too  good 

To  be  happy  and  free, 

And  gloom  filled  each  small  childish  heart. 

To  each  little  girl, 

And  to  every  small  boy 

On  Sunday,  the  day  seems  most  bright, 

And  the  flowers  and  birds 

Join  with  nature  to  sing — 

Is  that  wrong,  or  do  you  think  it  right? 

And  we  find  the  same  questions 
In  this  day  and  time, 
Continually  coming  our  way. 
For  some  find  the  good, 
And  then  some  find  the  bad 
In  the  ones  we  are  facing  today. 

The  world  has  its  faults, 

But  it  always  will  be 

What  each  of  us  find  in  the  plan — 

So  think  what  a  wonderful 

World  it  will  be 

When  love  shall  rule  over  the  land. 

And  so,  when  the  question 

Of  right  and  of  wrong 

Shall  come  in  to  disturb  a  bright  day, 

Just  fold  up  your  tent 

Like  the  Arab  of  old, 

And  silently  steal  far  away. 


35 


And  there  in  the  splendor 

Of  silence  with  God, 

Just  you  and  your  heart  sing  a  song; 

For  how  can  I  say,  that 

What  you  do  is  right? 

Can  you  say  what  I  do  is  wrong? 

Now  right  can  be  wrong, 

And  the  wrong  can  be  right — 

It  lies  in  the  heart  of  each  man. 

So  you  see  we  completed 

The  circle  again 

And  are  back  just  where  we  first  began. 


36 


"The  Desert" 

I  love  the  great  desert,  the  sun  goes  to  rest, 
With  its  colors  of  deep  blue  and  gold 
With  its  mountains  of  purple,  their  bright  silver  crest, 
Brings  peace  to  a  sad  weary  soul. 

The  tall  cactus  standing  like  sentinels  on  guard, 
To  watch  o'er  the  travelers'  night  camp, 
And  the  winking  and  blinking  of  stars  up  above 
Look  like  millions  of  soft  fairy  lamps. 

Then  the  moon  peeping  out,  just  to  lend  you  his  glow, 
Seems  to  follow  you  far  on  the  way; 
It  all  brings  you  comfort  and  soothes  you  to  rest, 
When  lo !    Once  again  it  is  day. 

'Tis  rest  that  the  desert  has  brought  to  my  soul, 
And  I'll  tell  you  how  I  learn  to  know, 
That  God  could  be  found  in  this  still  peaceful  place, 
For  an  Angel  has  just  told  me  so. 


37 


Victory 


For  weeks  a  battle  raged  within 
Between  the  wrong  and  right, 
With  restless  hours,  unhappy  days, 

And  long  and  sleepless  nights. 

And  thinking  he  possessed  the  power 
Of  strong  and  mighty  will; 
He  boastingly  began  each  day, 
Of  plans  of  how  he'd  fill. 

His  life  so  full  of  charity 
Of  kindly  thought  or  deed, 
That  he  alone  could  overcome, 
No  other  help  he'd  need. 

Ah !  Woe  it  is  for  thos-e  who  think, 
Their  own  will  can  suffice 
To  overcome  all  selfishness, 
All  weakness,  strife,  and  vice. 

So  with  a  broken  heart  and  life 
He  knelt  one  night  to  pray, 
And  found  that  he  was  saying, 
"Dear  God,  show  me  Thy  way. 

"Give  me  Thy  help  in  all  I  do, 
Teach  me  the  right  and  wrong, 
I  know  that  I  am  frail  and  weak; 
Oh !  God,  I  would  be  strong. 

"But  knowing  I  am  here  to  learn 
To  do  Thy  holy  will, 
I  ask  for  strength  to  overcome, 
Life's  struggles  and  MY  WILL." 


38 


The  battle  fought  and  weary  now 
He  rests  the  day  is  done, 
And  bows  in  deep  humility 
To  God — His  soul  had  won. 


39 


"Love  Eternal" 

From  distant  stars  you  came 

To  rind  the  soul  for  whom  you  fought, 

Passing  through  the  clouds  of  darkness 

Searching  the  Ethereal  sea, 

Seeking  for  that  loved  one  of  the  ages, 

Doubting  not  the  one  you  sought 

Loved  you  with  a  love  eternal, 

Rest  you  now   in   sweet   serenity. 

Float  ye  two  upon  life's  sea 

Fond  hearts  loving,  never  fearing, 

Though  the  dark  waves  seem  to  threat 

Gaze  ye  undismayed. 

Linked  in  hearts  together  though  a  space  apart 

To  thy  beacon  steering, 

From  each  other  never  parting, 

Trusting,  loving,  ne'er  afraid. 

Falter  not  ye  lovers, 

From  the  unremembered  ages 

Oft  thy  lives  entwined, 

Yet  oft  again  love's  eyes  were  blind, 

Though  memories  stirred  and  hearts  ached 

To  read  the  hidden  pages, 

Hoping  there  the  mysteries 

Of  thy  long  forgotten  lives  to  find. 

Long  apart  ye  two  have  drifted, 

But  light  comes,  in  the  darkness  of  distress; 

Steer   thy  earthly  bark  never   doubting 

To  the  haven  of  thy  bliss; 

Take  thou  then  thy  longed  happiness 

Twin  souls,  wanderers  from  afar, 

Lovers  twain,  receive  our  kiss. 


40 


"Cetra's  Wedding  Day" 

Unto  her  King,  she  gave  a  vow, 
Her  lover  brave  and  fair; 
To  him  alone  her  heart  would  cleave 
Naught  else  should  enter  there. 

Until  the  earth  and  suns  and  moons 
From  mortal  eye  had  past, 
And  God  himself  should  be  no  more 
Her  love  for  him  would  last. 

And  so  upon  her  brow  was  placed 
The  orange  blossom  crown, 
That  mingled  with  the  jewels  rare 
Her  raven  tresses  bound. 

A  robe  adorned  her  slender  form 
Of  silver,  gold  and  blue, 
But  she  had  eyes  for  him  alone 
This  lover  strong  and  true. 

She  stood  before  a  mighty  throng 
Such  solemn  words  to  say, 
That  would  forever  bind  two  hearts 
'Twas  "Cetra's"  wedding  day. 

Full  many  centuries  have  past 
Twelve  thousand  years  ago, 
And  still  two  lovers'  hearts  are  one 
And  many  centuries  more 

May  come  and  go  and  suns  may  fade 
And  moons  grow  pale  and  cold, 
But  still  the  pledge  she  gave  to  him 
In  love  and  truth  must  hold. 


41 


So  many  times  their  lives  entwined 
For  love  had  come  to  stay, 
And  when  tomorrow's  sun  shall  rise 
It's  "Cetra's  wedding  day." 


42 


Whispers  from  Heaven 

As  if  I  were  dreaming 
I  heard  them  all  say, 
In  low  whispered  voices, 
"She  died  today." 

And  I  stood  near  to  listen 
To  words  very  low 
Of  friends  and  of  neighbors 
"Who  loved  her  so." 

When  out  from  the  silence 
I  was  hearing  her  say, 
"Don't  grieve  my  dear  child,  I've 
Not  gone  away ! 

"  Tis  a  beautiful  land — " 
Thus  her  voice  sweetly  said, 
"I  shall  stay  near  you  always — 
There  are  no  dead." 

And  the  sweet,  gentle  one 
With  a  voice  soft  and  mild 
Said,  "I  shall  protect  you 
So  keep  a  smile." 

Then  I  leaned  o'er  her  bed, 
And  she  seemed,  Oh  !  so  still — 
I  kissed  the  sweet  lips 
And  lol  I  was  thrilled 
With  the  sweetest  assurance. 
So — I  could  not  cry 
For  I  heard  her  soft  whispers — 
"We  do  not  die!" 


43 


YA  01648 


U.C.BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


475846 


UN/VERSrTY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


